My Frankford Arsenal tumber is dying... need a replacement.

[Lone_Gunman]

After many thousands of rounds, and hundreds of hours of operation, my Frankford Arsenal tumbler is trying to die. The electric motor inside is getting stiff. If I take the bottom plate off, and spin the fan, it will usually kick in after a few tries... but something tells me its not long for this world.

Are there any better tumblers out there? I have been pretty happy with this one, but I bought it when i was just starting out reloading, and it was cheaper.

 

[20nickels]

I just bought one. I feel really good about my purchase now Maybe you could just replace the motor.

 

[pinkymingeo]

In the catalog pics all the affordable tumblers look like they come from the same manufacturer. The only difference seems to be bowl size. I'd get the cheapest available.

 

[PsychoKnight]

The motor has a 8-10" shaft, with an off-centered weight attached, and extends to allow attachment of the bowl. It comes down to whether you can remove the motor's shaft, then find a similar motor with exactly the same shaft diameter, and replace the shaft of the new motor with this elongated shaft. It could be a press fit, or the stator could be welded or pressed onto the shaft. Since you're ready to get a new tumbler, it doesn't hurt to try to dismantle your motor/shaft and see if a electronics shop (the kind that sells obscure parts, like dusty surplus parts in bins, not Radio Shack) has a match.

 

[snuffy]

Sounds like the bearings could use a little oil!? Take the motor apart, use some good quality oil on the bearings. It will probably go a couple more years.

 

[ranger335v]

Ditto the oil. Small induction electric motord, like those in our "tumblers", have low starting torque so dried oil can easily keep one from starting but will run if you give it a boost. That's our clue the oil on the shaft has dried out, it's not an electrical problem at all.

Put a few drops of Auto Transmission Fluid oil (Walmart) on the bearings, either ball or sleeve, then let it run enough to wash the old, gummed lube out and you should be in good shape for another long time.

(ATF is a very low viscosity oil that is also low drying but has a high film strength. It resists gumming pretty well to but ANY oil will eventually dry and have to be replaced from time to time. ATF is a great gun oil also, better than most of the oils labeled for guns and MUCH cheaper!)

 

[rc109a]

Why not stick with what works. I have two of them from Midway and they are great. I have been running them both almost a year every day with only one hiccup (a connector came loose). I don't think your going to find a better bargin. Just my 2 cents..

 

[happy old sailor]

my big, and old, Dillon case cleaner was hammering away like a semi on jake brake one afternoon and i was thumbing through Cabela's shooting and reloading catalog, i saw the RCBS case cleaner was on sale for fifty bucks with a twenty buck coupon. that made it cheap indeed. what really grabbed me was the word QUIET. i grabbed plastic and phone and a few days later here comes the brown truck. i took it into my reloading room, plugged it in, put about 2/3 bowl of walnut hulls into it, dumped some throw away brass in and flipped the inline switch. at first, i thought the thing didn't work, so i put a hand to it and, yep, it was vibrating. made about as much noise as a fridge running. nope, not returning it for money back.

so, i recommend the RCBS

 

[SASS#23149]

plus 1 for the RCBS tumbler.I have one runining right now , right next to my midway tumbler and there is no comparing the two.RCBS is a great tumbler,and this one is about 12 years old.

 

[dcloco]

Ummm...send it back to Midway for warranty??

 

[fulloflead]

I got mine from Cabelas. It was pretty cheap and does the same job as everyone else's.

.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

This one is almost impossible to kill:
http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/co...8/Dillon__039_s_CV_500_Vibratory_Case_Cleaner

 

[Quickdraw McGraw]

Rcbs!!!!

I'm a Lee man (classic turret press, dies, etc) but my tumbler is green, if motor goes bad just send it back and they fix it or send you new one. No questions asked. It is pretty quiet!

 

[jeepmor]

I'd check the bearings first also. You might blast the windings and such out with compressed air, if available, to knock out the dust and insure cooling operating temperature while you've got it apart. If the thing has brushes, might give them a look and air blast too.

Do induction motors have brushes? I should know this..

 

[The Bushmaster]

For pete sakes...Oil the dang thing...What' ya got to loose...

 

[Lone_Gunman]

I oiled it up some, and it seems to be back working .... at least for now.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I replaced mine with a Thumbler's tumbler. Model 18 I think. Yes it is expensive, but quiet, quick and oh so much nicer then the Midway 1292 (same as your frankford).